…Seed round follows pre-seed completion and product build
Education technology company Tespire has launched its Seed fundraising round as it plans wider deployment of its school management and learning systems across Nigeria. The Abuja-based startup said the round follows the close of its pre-seed activities and a year focused on product development and operational setup.
Tespire confirmed that its pre-seed fundraising was completed in stages during 2025, combining equity-backed capital and debt commitments. While the company did not disclose the total amount raised, it said the funds supported team structure, system development and internal processes, helping to prepare the business for its next phase in 2026.
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Support from CcHUB and Mastercard Foundation
In 2025, Tespire was selected as one of 12 startups across Africa to join the CcHUB x Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. Through the programme, the company received up to $100,000 in equity-free funding, along with mentorship, product guidance and access to a wider innovation network.
Tespire said the fellowship support aligned with its fundraising efforts and helped shape its market approach. The programme remains active through a 12-month post-programme support phase, during which fellows continue to receive technical and growth support.
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Shift in focus to semi-urban schools
During the fellowship period, Tespire said it focused on testing its product with users and adapting its systems to the needs of school owners and administrators in semi-urban communities. This marked a shift from the company’s earlier work with tertiary institutions under JD Lab Nigeria, from which Tespire emerged.
The company said the change reflected lessons from user feedback and field testing, with attention placed on school operations, payment systems and classroom support.
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Tablet-based school systems
Tespire provides tablet-based school management and learning tools known internally as “Tespire Boxes”. These systems support fee collection, school administration and classroom instruction. The company also said it has tested a Data Program designed to track and support learning outcomes across schools.
According to Tespire, the goal is to enable schools in semi-urban areas to manage operations and learning through digital tools that fit their daily realities.
Founder reflects on journey and next phase
The formal start of the Seed round in January 2026 comes after what the company described as a challenging year marked by funding delays and slower progress. Tespire said its focus during this period remained on building its product and maintaining team commitment.
“As we begin this Seed round, we remain committed to ensuring schools across semi-urban Nigeria can access and benefit from Tespire’s solutions,” said Abdulkadir Suleiman Lapai, Founder and CEO of Tespire. “Our journey reflects the real realities of building in Africa — uneven funding flows, iterative product refinement, and steady team perseverance. This next phase is about translating that hard work into impact at scale.”
Tespire said it is engaging angel investors, impact partners and ecosystem participants for its Seed round and has prepared a standard term structure to support participation.
